Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 7.djvu/297

1565.] THE EMBASSY OF DE S1LVA. 277 prising such a matter without her Majesty's knowledge and consent.' Mary Stuart, affecting the utmost surprise, in turn professed herself at a loss to understand Elizabeth's meaning. It was not to be supposed, she said, that she would remain always unmarried; the foreign princes who had proposed for her had been unwelcome to the Queen of England, and she had imagined that in taking an English nobleman who was equally acceptable to both realms, she would have met her sister's wishes most exactly. The truth sprung to Throgmorton's lips ; he had been a true friend to her and he would speak plainly. He told her that she knew very well what the Queen of England had desired ; and she knew also that she was doing the very thing which was not desired. The Queen of England had wished her to take some one ' who would maintain the amity between the two nations ; ' and by Lord Darnley that amity would not be maintained. Argument was of course unavailing. The Queen of Scots had on her side the letter of Elizabeth's words for Darnley was the nominee of the English Catholics ; and the Catholics outnumbered the Protestants. After some discussion she promised to suspend the celebration of the marriage for three months, in the hope that in the interval Elizabeth would look more favourably on it ; but Throgmorton saw that she was determined ; and he doubted whether she would adhere to the small conces- sion which she had made. ' The mutter is irrevocable/ he reported to Elizabeth